Definition and Examples of Literary Terms

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Ships That Pass in the Night

Origin

This line originates from the poem “The Theologian’s Tale” and taken from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s collection of the poems titled, “Tales of a Wayside Inn.” The poem reads a “Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,/Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness…” Here the passing ships tell the readers about the people who see each other for the first time and only for a short duration and then part ways, disappearing into the vastness of the earth. Thus, the poet is telling readers that such people are like two ships, which passing by each other at night and come face to face for a transitory period.

Meaning

This is a metaphoric expression, which is a very common saying intended to refer to those people who encounter only for a short period, share just a few words and then separate to continue their way and never see each other again, or simply it tells about the individuals that are hardly in the same place at the same time. It can be used for things too, if two things do not have a significant commonality or connection.

Usage

This metaphoric phrase is usually found in poetry and in everyday usage. For instance, two lovers meet for the first time in an incidental or transitory manner, and their relationship may not have a lasting significance, as shortly after their encounter, they depart and then may never see again or may not see sooner in the future. Likewise, you meet a stranger, speak for a while and like him/her; however, forget to mention each other’s name and then unable to find again. Then you can use this phrase to point out your situation.

Source Origin

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has coined this phrase about 150 years ago in part three of his poem “Tales of a Wayside Inn” where it reads as;

“Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,
Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness;
So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another,
Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.”(Part III, The Theologian’s Tale: Elizabeth Section IV)

In fact, this poem is about meeting and courtship of a lady, Elizabeth, and John Estaugh who met her during his sailing trip in the 1701. Shortly after that, she proposed him and they got married in 1702. There are various narrators in the poem, who are probably author’s friends. It contains three parts, and each one consists of a prelude and a finale; however, this part of the poem is presented in Elizabeth’s voice.

Literary Analysis

Ocean is a huge place, but nobody knows what it indicates that two ships sail and pass by each other. It probably occurs at night and they shine lights on each other to acknowledge their presence. This shining of the lights can indicate greeting, as if two ships are communicating to each other, until they pass by and disappear into complete darkness of night, never see each other again. However, who knows that they might meet their paths again someday at some point.

Literary Devices

Metaphorical Reference: It is a reference of the ships with two individuals, who just meet and say goodbye to each other.